Generation Patient peer groups are a space for young adult patients to share experiences and connect with others navigating similar issues. In 2024, we offered three different types peer-support groups (two cross-disease, one disease-specific): General Groups, open to YA patients with any chronic/rare medical conditions; our Higher Education Groups, open to any YA patients in college/graduate school; and our IBD Group, open to any YA patients with IBD. Learn more about our different groups and how to join.
In 2024, we:
Offered a total of 65 peer-support groups (23 General Groups, 22 Higher Education Groups, and 20 IBD Groups) – on average, around 6 participants attended each group.
Welcomed around 85 different patients to our groups throughout the year (many of whom attended frequently, or joined more than one group type!)
Worked with 11 community facilitators to host these groups (along with our 4 ‘veteran’ facilitators)!
Some topics we discussed in 2024:
Coping with Test Result Anxiety
Dealing with Treatment Burnout
Building Support Systems
Dealing with Treatment Decisions
Challenging Holiday Conversations
Dealing with Stigma
Adjusting to Seasonal Changes
Preparing for the School Year
Setting Self-compassionate Goals
Celebrating Little “Wins”
Making Activities (more) Accessible
Dealing with Invalidation
Navigating Life Transitions
Navigating Intersecting Identities
Food Relationships & Chronic Illness
Navigating Exam Stress
Self-Advocacy Tips/Tricks
Talking about IBD with Healthy Peers
Getting Creative with Accommodations
Reflecting on our IBD Journeys
Identifying Access Needs
Other activities we hosted in 2024:
Art activities (“Draw & Talk” and “Craft & Chat” sessions, Coping/Self Care Crafts), poetry workshops, game nights, and many other community check-in calls/casual chats!
Data from our 2024 Program Evaluations:
Of the 46 peer group attendees who completed the survey, ~90% reported they were satisfied or very satisfied with our groups!
We saw a statistically significant decrease in feelings of loneliness (p=0.025) among young adults who joined our peer groups compared to others in our community who filled out the survey but had not attended our groups (measured by the UCLA 3-item loneliness scale)!
Our community had lots of powerful things to share about the impact of our groups (quotes below)!
Quotes from our Community Members:
“I never felt like there was a place to talk so openly about chronic illness and different topics that weighed so heavily on my mind in my group around me. These support groups make it easier to foster connections with others which have made a really positive impact on my life.”
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“[These] meetings taught [me] what real advocacy meant. I feel like I am heard and there are people around the globe who feel like I do in day to day life with chronic illnesses, [it] feels like a comfortable home to be with my [chronic illness].”
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“I'm very grateful to have learned about Generation Patient…because it has allowed me to make connections with other people who can relate to being young and chronically ill. I truly feel that these meetings have contributed positively to my overall well-being and they're something that I always look forward to. I also feel like I've learned a lot about the healthcare and pharmaceutical industries and patient advocacy that I otherwise might not have known as much about. These topics have also become things that I deeply care about.”
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“I really love the support and how everyone wants to uplift each other, this community is so amazing and has given me opportunities I would've never thought of achieving as a chronic illness patient.”
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“Although I've only recently started participating in peer support meetings, I already feel like they really help me process my chronic illness experience. I'm thankful to find this sense of community.”
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“I love the fact that it is an open space for all to be themselves and the chance to be open and vulnerable in a community that just gets me.”
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“I find the support groups engaging and bringing up really important discussions surrounding chronic illness and disability. I look forward to seeing and talking with everyone that I have gotten to know, and I like how they ask for support needs every session because it can look different day to day depending on symptoms or energy levels.”
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Our groups are entirely peer-led and free for our community members, and we have LOTS more to come in 2025! Your generous donations allow us to compensate our peer facilitators and keep this program running.